Reelfoot Lake Spillway and Bridge

This project included the S.R. 21 widening, the closure of the existing Reelfoot Lake spillway, and the completion of the new Reelfoot Lake spillway and channel in Lake and Obion Counties, Tennessee. Highlights of this project include over 535,000 cubic yards of excavation and embankment; an intricate dewatering system to allow for spillway construction; the new reinforced, cast-in-place concrete spillway structure; spillway access roads; over 1 mile of spillway channel construction; reforestation; utility relocations; the replacement of the S.R. 21 bridge over the spillway channel; and over 18,000 square feet of 74’ long sheet piles to close the existing spillway structure. The new spillway structure included approximately 5,300 cubic yards of concrete; 464,000 pounds of reinforcing steel; the gates and operating equipment, as well as electrical service to run the equipment; the stop logs and accessories; and the access bridge. The new spillway structure was built to replace the aging, existing structure and to improve the lake level management of Reelfoot Lake.